The one thing I really wanted to do in Kyoto was see a geisha. Apparently this is quite difficult to do.

The travel agent suggested a dinner with a geisha. At the cost of several thousand euro this is an hours long formal meal with drinking games. Perfect for kids!

Usually the other way to see a geisha is to hang around Gion in the evening. Fortunately twice a year there are Geisha dances on and we were there for the April season. Tickets are not that easy to get but the concierge in the hotel organised them for us.

First there was a tea ceremony. A rather production line affair where you are shepherded in and out for a very quick green tea and sweet while two geisha sit on a stage.

The show itself was enchanting. The costumes were gorgeous and the dancing was very formal and stylised. Nigel and John were not as impressed as the girls and me. The music that accompanied the show was unusual to say the least.

Photographs are strictly forbidden but I risked the worth of the attendants.